Isaiah 49:4

Isaiah 49:4 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Then I said, I have laboured in vain, I have spent my strength for nought, and in vain: yet surely my judgment is with the Lord, and my work with my God.
• New International Version (NIV)But I said, “I have labored in vain; I have spent my strength for nothing at all. Yet what is due me is in the Lord’s hand, and my reward is with my God.”
• English Standard Version (ESV)But I said, "I have labored in vain; I have spent my strength for nothing and vanity; yet surely my right is with the Lord, and my recompense with my God."
• New King James Version (NKJV)Then I said, ‘I have labored in vain, I have spent my strength for nothing and in vain; Yet surely my just reward is with the Lord, And my work with my God.’ ”

Context of Isaiah 49:4

2And he hath made my mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of his hand hath he hid me, and made me a polished shaft; in his quiver hath he hid me; 3And said unto me, Thou art my servant, O Israel, in whom I will be glorified. Then I said, I have laboured in vain, I have spent my strength for nought, and in vain: yet surely my judgment is with Yhwh, and my work with my God. 5And now, saith Yhwh that formed me from the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob again to him, Though Israel be not gathered, yet shall I be glorious in the eyes of Yhwh, and my God shall be my strength. 6And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth.

Isaiah 49:4 word by word

וַאֲנִ֤י אָמַ֙רְתִּי֙ לְרִ֣יק יָגַ֔עְתִּי לְתֹ֥הוּ וְהֶ֖בֶל כֹּחִ֣י כִלֵּ֑יתִי אָכֵן֙ מִשְׁפָּטִ֣י אֶת־יְהוָ֔ה וּפְעֻלָּתִ֖י אֶת־אֱלֹהָֽי׃Read the interlinear

• Then I saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• I have labouredיָגֵעַyâga‛ · be weary/toilH3021
• in vainרִיקrîyq · vainH7385
• I have spentכָּלָהkâlâh · to end: expendH3615
• my strengthכֹּחַkôach kôach · strengthH3581
• for noughtתֹּ֫הוּtôhû · formlessnessH8414
• and in vainהֶ֫בֶלhebel hăbêl · vanityH1892
• surelyאָכֵן'âkên · surelyH403
• my judgmentמִשְׁפָּטmishpâţ · justiceH4941
• with Yhwhיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
• and my workפְּעֻלָּהpe‛ûllâh · wagesH6468
• with my Godאֱלֹהִים'ĕlôhîym · GodH430

Cross-references for Isaiah 49:4

• Isaiah 65:2I have spread out my hands all the day unto a rebellious people, which walketh in a way that was not good, after their own thoughts;
• Ezekiel 3:19Yet if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul.
• Matthew 17:17Then Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him hither to me.
• Matthew 23:37O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!
• John 1:11He came unto his own, and his own received him not.
• Romans 10:21But to Israel he saith, All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people.
• Galatians 4:11I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain.
• Leviticus 26:20And your strength shall be spent in vain: for your land shall not yield her increase, neither shall the trees of the land yield their fruits.
• 2 Corinthians 12:15And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved.
• Isaiah 53:10Yet it pleased Yhwh to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of Yhwh shall prosper in his hand.
• Psalms 22:22I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee.
• Luke 24:26Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?
• John 17:4I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.
• 2 Corinthians 2:15For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish:
• Philippians 2:9Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
• Hebrews 12:2Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Commentaries on Isaiah 49:4

• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 4Then I said - I the Messiah. In the previous verses he speaks of his appointment to the office of Messiah, and of his dignity. The design here is to prepare the way for the announcement of the fact that he would make known his gospel to the pagan, and would be for a light to the Gentiles. For this purpose he speaks of his labors among his own countrymen; he laments the little success which attended his work at the commencement, but consoles himself with…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 4I have labored in vain: Even though people stubbornly refuse his message, the servant will still reach out to them. My vindication is with the LORD: Despite discouragement and suffering, the servant will continue to perform his duty faithfully, trusting God for the outcome. God promised to reward the servant’s faithfulness (see also Isaiah 40:10; 50:8).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 44. I--Messiah. in vain--comparatively in the case of the greater number of His own countrymen. "He came unto His own, and His own received Him not" (Is 53:1-3; Lu 19:14; Joh 1:11; 7:5). Only a hundred twenty disciples met after His personal ministry was ended (Ac 1:15). yet ... my judgment ... with the Lord--Ultimately, God will do justice to My cause, and reward (Margin for "work," compare Is 40:10; 62:11) My labors and sufferings. He was never…Read the comment

Topics related to Isaiah 49:4

• Jesus Continued

In the dictionaries

• God
• god, false god, goddess, idol, idolater, idolatrous, idolatry
• Forget
• Mouth
• Atonement
• Choose; Chosen
• Christ, Offices of
• Isaiah
• Mark, the Gospel According to
• Nought

Commentaries on Isaiah 49

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings